by Ben Myatt
Clarence's eyes went to Callum's arm, and the black tattoo winding across his flesh.
“And you knew what would happen if I came into contact with it, didn't you?” the dragon-blood said.
“...We had our suspicions.”
Nathaniel slammed his hand down on the table.
“Well, next time Clarence, you can damned well tell us your suspicions before you send us into a situation.” He glared at the head of the Guild, his eyes filled with fire. “We agreed to join the Order. What we didn't agree to do was be your pawns. If you want us to do this job, from now on, I want full disclosure from you.”
Clarence raised an eyebrow, and shrugged his shoulders, sending a ripple through his portly frame.
“As you will. I certainly wouldn't want to lose you after such good work.” he smiled. “From now on, you shall be fully briefed. Now, I'm sure you have other places to be.”
He turned back to the pile of work before him, clearly ignoring them. The three agents shared a look, then headed for the door.
Outside in the corridor Callum smiled.
“I think that went about as well as could be expected.”
Nathaniel shrugged.
“I wanted him to know where we stand. I have no problem with doing missions for the Guild, but I refuse to be Clarence's catspaw.”
“I think he understands that.” Elizabeth added. “So, what now?”
Callum grinned, and threw his arms around their shoulders, ignoring the slight flinch from Nathaniel.
“For now, I say we go and have a drink. Its been a long few weeks.”
She laughed.
“I can live with that.”
***
After the door had clicked shut behind the three agents of the Order, Clarence counted to ten under his breath. Then, he leaned back in his chair and lit his pipe.
“Was that,” He said to the empty room, “what you intended?”
The girl in white smiled at him from the next seat, her eyes mischievous.
“It certainly doesn't go against my plans. Not too badly done, Clarence, not too badly done at all.”
The head of the mages council blew a long stream of fragrant smoke, watching the patterns it formed in the air.
“You're putting a terrible burden on them.”
“They're strong enough. I should know. And there are worse things coming than the Chitin, my old friend.”
“Really?”
“I've known you since you were six years old. Have I ever lied to you?”
“No. But you haven't always told me the whole truth either.”
The girl smiled, and pushed back her chair.
“I'm sure you'll survive that.” Her face turned serious, her strangely old eyes glinting in her youthful face. “There are enemies moving, Clarence, both here, and in America. I trust you've kept in contact with X-division?”
“Of course. Their methods differ from mine, but they seem to get results.”
“I'm keeping abreast of the situation. Make sure you do the same.” She looked up at the mural of King Arthur's court that decorated the walls. “Dark days are coming Clarence, and we all need to be ready to meet them.”
She vanished between one instant and the next. Clarence raised an eyebrow at the spot where the girl had stood, and then, puffing lightly on his pipe, he turned back to his work.
Books By Ben Myatt
The Jim Ashwood Series:
1: High Moon Rising: Blood and Fang
2: High Moon Rising: Hungry Mountains
3: High Moon Rising: The Serpents Fangs
Collected edition:
High Moon Rising Volume One.
The Callum Drake Series:
1: The Order of Britain: The Devil's Regiment - Coming October 27th
Ben Myatt is an English author, transplanted to Liverpool from the suburbs of Kent.
After studying Imaginative Writing at Liverpool John Moores University, Hungry Mountains is the second story in the Jim Ashwood series.
He currently lives in Liverpool with his Wife and their two pet birds.
Find more about Ben's works at www.benmyattwriter.co.uk
Follow Ben on twitter: www.twitter.com/@bendanarama
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter four.
Chapter Five.
Chapter Six.
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight